Scarf with inherent adjustable fastening means



SCARF WITH INHERENT ADJUSTABLE FASTENING MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 9, 1965 //V VEA/TOR 'VA TTORNEY Oct. 4, 1966 W' ENGLEHAUPT 3,276,037

soARF WITH INHERENT ADJUSTABLE FASTENING MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 9, 1965 United States Patent O M 3,276,037 SCARF WITH INHERENT ADJUSTABLE FASTENNG MEANS William Englehaupt, 2440 N. Lakeview Ave., Chicago, Ill. Filed June 9, 1965, Ser. No. 462,564 1 Claim. (Cl. 2-146) The present invention relates to wearing apparel` and has particular reference to a novel scarf having assoclated therewith inherent adjustable fastening means whereby the scarf may be worn or draped about the neck or head of the user in various ways to accommodate varying neck or head sizes, as well as to accommodate various artistic displays of the scarf when worn. For purposes of discussion herein, the term scarf, in its broadest sense, is inclusive of both mens and womens wearing apparel, in the former instance, the article of wearing apparel or scarf invariably being draped about the neck of the user, and in the latter instance, the article being, as desired, draped about the neck, the head, or both.

For convenience of descri-ption, the invention will be illustrated and described herein in connection with an Ascot tie which is considered herein to be a special form of scarf, such a necktie being particularly well-adapted as an environment for the present invention. However, other articles of apparel which, in use, present crossover portions rnay be constructed according to the present inf/ention so that the crossover portions thereof may be adJusted, either as to the angle involved or the position of the crossover with relation to the article as a whole. Irrespective, however, of the particular environment with which the present invention may be associated, the essential features thereof at all times remain substantially the same.

By definition, an Ascot tie is a wide strip of cloth, the medial region of which is relatively narrow and is adapted to encircle the neck, and the end regions of which are appreciably wider than the neck-encircling medial portion and are adapted to be displaced on the chest of the user in various ways. In m-ost instances, an Ascot tie is pleated longitudinally throughout the narrow medial region wi-th the pleats extending a short distance into the wide end regions.

The Ascot tie or scarf is a versatile article of apparel in that it may be Worn in a wide variety of ways. Currently, an Ascot tie finds favor for sports wear and when so used, it is simply caused t-o encircle the neck so that there is a .crossover at the front of the neck. After the crossover is formed, one of the two end regions of the tie is threaded upwardly between the crossover and the neck and then draped over the crossover so that it hangs downwards and overlies the other end region. The two end regions are then spread out or flattened and the outer exposed end region constitutes the display region of the tie. When thus applied to the neck of the user, a loose knot is established directly in front of the neck and ditiiculty is encountered in keeping this knot tight, the tendency being for the knot to slip and expose the neck of the wearer, as Well as to ruin or disrupt the display effect.

An Ascot tie of the aforementioned character is also capable of use for formal wear and when so used, the same crossover portion is established in front of the neck, a knot is made, and the wide end portions of the tie are draped in reentrant fashion in front of the chest of the user and establish a wide crossover region below the first narrow crossover region, these wide crossover regions, as well as the free end regions of the tie, usually being pinned in position on the front of the wearers shirt. Invariably, for formal wear, an Ascot tie is worn with a wing collar. An Ascot tie lends itself more readily to artistic arrangements than does an ordinary or conventional tie and, as a consequence, at each wearing thereof, the tie takes on a definite set which is ruined when the tie is removed. An

3,276,937 Patented Oct. 4, 1956 Ascot tie, therefore, usually requires careful ironing o-r pressing in between wearings, especially in the knotted region thereof.

The present invention, when embodied in an Ascot tie, simplifies the tying procedure, regardless of Whether the tie be employed for sports or formal wear, by embodying a two-part or element-separable velvet-type pile fastener in association with the tie, the male and female elements of the fastener being applied to the tie in the narrow crossover or knot region of the same, and in such relation to the tie that these elements provide a narrow adjustable crossover and may be varied in their placement with respect to each other to vary the extent of the tie loop which enci-rcles the neck of the user or wearer of the tie. Since the two parts or elements of a velvet-type pile fastener cannot slip after their union, the knot which is established at the front of the neck cannot itself slip and the tie may be worn in the usual manner of sports wear with assurance that there will be no slipping of the knot or displacement of the display region of the tie.

Where the Ascot tie is empl-oyed for formal wear, the two parts or elements -of the velvet-type pile fastener may similarly be varied in their placement to vary the extent of the tie loop which encircles the neck, and they also may be carried in their angularity with respect to each -other in o-rder to vary the angularity of the crossover which occurs immediately in front of the collar button. It is desirable t-o vary the angle of this narrow -crossover commensurately with the varying of the angle of the wide crossover display region so that a more uniform draping effect may be attained, for example, to accommodate varying chest Widths.

The provision of an Ascot tie or scarf, or other article of wearing apparel having a crossover portion which is secured in position by a velvet-type pile fastener for the purposes briefly outlined above constitutes the principal object of the present invention.

In the accompanying two sheets of drawings forming a part of this specification, one illustrative embodiment of the invention, displayed both for sports and formal wear, is shown in detail.

In these drawings:

FIG. l is a front elevational view of an Ascot tie embodying the present invention and showing the same in actual use for sports wear;

FIG. 2 is a fron-t elevational view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the tie during one stage of its installation;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view similiar to FIG. l but showing the tie in actual use for formal Wear in connection with a wing collar;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the Ascot tie in its free state;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary inside or rear view of the display end regions of an Ascot necktie in its free state and illustrating lthe relative positioning of the two parts or elements of the velvet-type pile fastener that is associated therewith;

FIGS. 6 to 9, inclusive, are plan views, schematic in their representation, illustrating various cooperating positions which the two parts or elements of the fastener may assume to accommodate different crossover region angles and collar band sizes; and

FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view taken tran-sversely through a velvet-type pile fastener of the type that is employed in connection with the present invention.

Referring now to .the drawings in detail, in FIG. l an Ascot tie embodying the present invention is shown aS being employed for sports wear and thus Vis draped about the neck of the user. In FIG. 3, the same tie is shown as being employed for formal wear and thus is applied to a wing collar with the display portions of the tie draped in front of the user. In FIG. 2, there is illustrateda crossover which is common to the ascot displays 3 of both FIGS. 1 and 3. Although the Ascot tie or scarf of the present invention finds wide. use .for sports wear and, by comparison, only extremely limited use for formal wear, the versatility of the particular fastening means vthatis associated with the tie-or scarf is considerably greater in connection with its use for formal wear and, therefore, such use of the tie or scarf will be treated or referred to first.

Referring to FIG. 3 wherein an Ascot tie 10 embodying the present invention is shown as being operatively applied to la wing collar 12, it is :deemed essential to a full understanding of the present invention that the nature of an Ascot tie and the manner in which it is worn, both for formal and sports wear, be had. The ltie 10 is a conventional or standard Ascottie and is cut from a single strip of silk or other suitable cloth so as to provide a relatively narrow neck-encircling band portion 13 which terminates in two comparatively wide display or crossover portions 14 and 15. The tie is longitudinally pleated as shown at 16 -in various ways according ,to the dictates of the designer in either the band portion 10 or the crossover portions 14 and 15, or in all such portions and, furthermore, all of the portions are of multiple thickness and sometimes lined internally t len-d greater substance or strength to Athe tie las a whole. Stitching as indicated at 18 is resorted to Wherever necessary to hold the pleats 16 in position and other sewing expedients such as spot-tacking and the like (not shown) may be resorted to for tie-shaping and form-retaining purposes.

For formal wear, the tie is worn by causing the band portion 13 to encircle the collar 12, Eafter which the wide display or crossover portions 14 and 15 are draped in crossover fashion so that one of the portions crosses over the other portion at a comparatively wide angle such as 90 with the one said portion assuming the predominant or front position wherein it overlies said other portion. In applying the tie 10, after the wide crossover has been effected, the portions 14 and 15 are usually draped in an artistic arrangement by pinning the same with concealed pins or other fasteners directly onto the shirt front of the wearer. Sometimes the pointed end regions Z0 are lallowed to remain free or are pinned flat against the shirt, and sometimes they are tucked under the broad adjacent or adjoining portions of the tie so Athat bosom loops are all that appear when the arrangement is viewed from the front. irrespective, however, of the particular artistic or draped arrangement of the comparatively wide display or crossover portions 14 and 15, the essential features of the invention are in no way altered.

According to the present invention, the necessity for knotting the tie in the 'vicinity of the button for the collar 12 or in front of .the wearers neck is obviated, and instead, the juncture regions between the band portion 13 and the two wide display or crossover portions 14 and 15 are caused to cross each other in a narrow crossover region. In order to hold the --portions 14 and in place without any possibility of slippage, novel releasable fastening means is provided. Such fastening means is located at the aforementioned narrow crossover region and may be quickly and easily arranged with the crossover portions 14 and 15 of the tie 10 positioned at varying angles to each other in order .to accommodate difference-s in the lead-out angles which are involved in connection with draping the display portions 14 and 15 at different angles. The particular fastening means also makes possible different crossover points whereby proper collar tension may be attained for different sizes of collars. Such fastening means is 'afforded by the use of an especially designed separable velve-type pile fastener which is applied to the tie 10 in such a manner that when the narrow cross-over regions of the tie are pushed Itogether inthe positions which they .are intended to assume in the finally draped necktie, they will stay together in their proper angular crossover relationship until they are forcibly pulled apart.

There is on the market at the present time a type of two-element separable fastener wherein each fastener element comprises a velvet-type fabric having raised piles, the piles of one fabric element having an affinity for the piles of the other fabric element, in that when the two elements are pushed together in face-to-face relationship, they will remain thus attached to each other until they are forcibly pulled apart. When they are thus forcibly pulled apart, the piles which formerly became interlocked, then become separated and return to their normal free state ready for a succeeding interlocking or mating engagement. Various pile forms are employed in connection with such velvet type pile fasteners, but, in general, all such fasteners employ piles having hook portions which are on both fabric elements and interlock when the two fastener elements are pushed together in face-to-face relationship. Not all of the .hook port-ions on one fastener element interlock with counterpart hook portions on the other element, but there will be a sufficient number of interlocking hook portions to retain the two fastener parts securely in their fastened or joined relationship. The two joined elements are separated by a peeling operation wherein they become progressively separated. An example of one such velvet-type fabric which is capable of use as a two-element separable fastener is illustrated and described in United States Patent No. 2,717,437, granted on September 13, 1955, and entitled, Velvet Type Fabric and Method of Producing Same. Reference may be had to this patent for a full understanding of the nature of the here involved fabric, how it is manufactured, and how it may be employed as a fastener. In the patent referred to above, both fastening parts or elements are of identical construction. However, in other forms of velvet-type pile fasteners, male and female fastening elements are employed wherein the piles on the male element differ from the piles on the female element. Any of a wide variety of existing velvet-type pile fabrics which are capable of interlocking relation are currently available for use in connection with the present invention and, therefore, the invention is not to be limited to the use of any specific or particular fabric.

According to the present invention, two counterpart fastener elements 30 and 32 are cut from either identical or dissimilar velvet-type fabric materials, the only criterion necessary being that the piles of one element be capable of interlocking relationship with the piles of the other element when the two elements are pushed together as outlined above. Toward this end, the piles of both elements may, as shown in FIG. 10, consist of severed loops 34 which project outwardly from the plane of the fabric material 36, opposed loops being capable of interlocking relationship as shown.

The two c-oacting or counterpart elements may xbe of identical configuration, each being in the form of an elongated narrow rectangular strip of the velvet-type fabric. Each element has an outer non-adhering side 38 and an inner adhering side 40, the adhering sides 40 of the two elements being capable of interlocking union and the nonadhering sides being incapable of such union.

The element 30 is stitched as at 42, or is otherwise secured to the outside face of the tie 10 at or near the juncture between the band portion 13 and the display or crossover portion 14 as shown in FIG. 4 so that it is slightly inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tie on an angle of approximately 30. The element 32 is similarly stitched or otherwise secured to the inside face of the necktie at or near the juncture between the band portion 13 and the display or crossover portion 15. The two elements 30 and 32 are secured to the tie so that their adhering sides 40 are exposed, the non-adhering sides thereof being in face-to-face contact with the fabric of the tie 10. Both elements 3i) and 32 lie wholly within the marginal outline of the tie.

The angular positions which the two fastener elements or strips 30 and 32 assume with respect to the tie as a whole are such that, when the band portion 13 of the tie encircles the collar 12, the two elements 30 and 32 may be brought into -approximate positions of register and then pushed together into face-to-face contact to cause the hooked piles 34 thereof to interlock as shown in FIG. 10, it being understood that not all ofthe hooked piles of either strip will interlock with all of .the piles of the other strip. It is estimated that a 15% interlock between opposed hooked piles will suffice to establish an effective body between the two fastener elements 30 and 32, providing, of course, that the various interlocks are widely distributed over the opposed areas of the two fastener elements.

Depending, in part, upon the preference of the wearer and in part upon chest width, it may be desirable to vary the angularity at which the two wide display or crossover portions 14 and 15 cross each other. A wider chest surface will dictate that a wider cross angle be employed. For proper draping effect, a commensurate lead-out angle from the narrow crossover region in the vicinity of the collar button of the collar 12 should be maintained. Additionally, for different collar sizes, the extent of the Iband region 13 should be varied accordingly. The fastener elements 30 and 32 of the present invention provide for 'both of these adjustments.

Ordinarily, the two fastener elements 30 and 32 will be forced into Contact with each other at a very small angle which may be even a zero angle and also they will mate substantially coextensively. Considering a fifteen and one-half inch collar to be an average size collar, the two counterpart fastener elements 30 and 32 may be stitched onto the tie on this basis so that, if desired, they may be caused to mate in face-to-face coextensive contact and at a zero angle. For use -on a collar of either smaller or greater size, the zero angle between the two elements 30 and 32 may be maintained, but the longitudinal placement of one element on the other element may be v-aried accordingly to accommodate the required shorter or longer extent of the neck band portion 13.

For special display effects where, for example, it is desired that the wide crossover region of the two display portions 14 and 15 be at an angle other than the normal angle shown in FIG. 3, the angularity between the two fastener elements 30 and 32 may be varied accordingly to the end that the lead-out portions of the tie extending from the fastener elements to the display portions 14 and 15 may have the proper directional characteristics and curvature. The special display effects which are referred to above may be attained by varying the crossover angle between the two fastener elements from a zero angle to a 90 angle.

Finally, any combination of crossover angles and longitudinal placement of the two fastener elements 30 and 32 may be resorted to. In FIG. 6, -a small crossover angle with substantial longitudinal coincidence is illustrated. In FIG. 7, a larger crossover angle with the crossover taking place in the medial regions of both elements is shown. In FIG. 8, a small crossover angle and wide lateral displacement is illustrated. In FIG. 9, a wide crossover angle with appreciable longitudinal displacement is shown. The disclosures of FIGS. 6 to 9 are merely illustrative of typical positions of the fastener elements 30 and 32 and it will be understood that these elements are capable of an infinite number of positions with respect to each other.

When the Ascot tie is employed for sports wear, it functions more in the manner of a scarf than a tie and its application to the wearer for display purposes is considerably simpler than its application for formal wear as described above. As shown in FIG. 1, the tie is worn directly about the neck and in its application the same crossover that was made preparatory to the display of FIG. 3 is made preparatory tothe display of FIG. 1, this crossover being illustrated in FIG. 2. The crossover is secured against slipping by union of the two fastener elements 30 and 32 at zero angle and so that the display portion 15 extends from the outer portion of the crossover. After the crossover has been effected, the portion 15 of the tie is pushed upwardly through the space existing `between the crossover and the neck of the wear, after which it is draped downwardly as shown in FIG. 1 so that it overlies the portion 14, and at the same time, it is flattened out to display its full width. Except for the provision of the two velvet-type pile fastener elements 30 and 32, the disclosure of FIG. l illustrates the manner in which a conventional Ascot tie is worn in the manner of a scarf for informal or sports wear. Considerable difficulty is encountered in maintaining the crossover knot tight. When this crossover knot slips, the display portions 14 and 15 become disarrayed and the wearer encounters a sense of discomfort. The provision of the two velvet-type pile fastener elements 30 and 32 directly on the opposed faces of the crossover holds the crossover knot tight. The crossover `angle which is employed when the tie of FIGS. 1 and 2 is employed as an article of sportswear is less critical than it is when the tie is employed for formal wear. It is not necessary to take great pains to secure any particular crossover angle and the two fastener elements 30 and 32 may cross each other at any desired angle ranging from axial coincidence to an angle of At any of these angles, the placement of one fastener element against the other counterpart element may be effected at different longitudinal regions to vary the effective length of the band portion 13 and thus accommodate different neck sizes.

The invention is not to be limited to the exact arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings or described in this specification as various changes in the detailsof construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the invention is not necessarily confined to use in connection with an Ascot tie since the principles thereof are equally Well-adapted for use in connection with Womens scarves, as well las with other garments having crossover portions in which it is desira-ble to vary either the crossover angle, the relative displacements of the crossover, `or both of these factors. Therefore, only insofar as the invention has particularly been pointed out in the accompanying claim is the same to be limited.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

An Ascot tie comprising an elongated strip of cloth material having a narrow medial collar-encircling portion which merges at its opposite ends with respective comparatively wide display portions through the media of intervening crossover portions, and a pair of cooperating generally rectangular elongated narrow velvet-type pile fastener elements, one being fixedly secured to each crossover portion and extending at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the tie on the order of 30 with the two fastener elements being disposed on opposite sides of said strip whereby, when the tie is in its extended linearly straight condition, the fastener elements present their longitudinal axes in substantial parallelism, the pile faces of each fastener element facing outwardly away from the strip and cooperating with each other to secure the tie about the neck of a wearer.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,369,442 2/1945 Davis 2 146 2,385,791 10/1945 Bye 2-91 2,452,972 11/1945 von Rodenstein 2 91 2,494,250 1/1950 Leven 2-91 2,717,437 9/1955 De Mestrai 3,135,256 6/1964 Gruber.

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,016,832 11/1952 France.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner. PATRICK D. LAWSON, Examiner. 

